Safety device for gas engines



p 1931- w. E. ALBERTSON 1,821,779

SAFETY DEVICE; FOR GAS ENGINES I Filed June 16, 1930 -2 Sheets-Sheet l 5] WWW/boz- PV." .5. .HZZrerisan V a/H'ommp Sept. 1, 1931. w. E. ALBERTSON SAFETY DEVICE FOR GAS ENGINES Filed Jun e 1'6, 1930- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. ALBERTsoN OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, nssrsivor. or ONE-HALF TO I MAXEY :0. .MOODY, or JACKSONVILLE, FLORID 'ISAFETY nEvI'cr: ron GASfEl NGINES Application filed Jim 16,

' This invention relates broadly to automatic means for running off liquids from a container 'at predetermined degrees of temperature and more specifically ,to safety devices for preventing bursting of radiators of automobile and other engines at freezing'temperatures.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel tap, valve or the like'constitutinga releasing means for the cooling liquid in the radiator, the valve being automatically opened by a thermostat controlled switch 7 when the temperature drops to freezing so that the water is drained from the radiator.

A further object of'the invention is to provide a releasing means including a spring pressed valve and its housing, there being in spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of provided novel leaf springs and a fuse con necting the leaf springs and coacting with the latter in maintaining the valve closed against the tension of its spring, said fuse being blown by closingwof thethermostat controlled switch and disconnecting said leaf springs whereby said valve is freed to be openedby its spring; 7 t

A still further object of the invention is.

to provide an automatic releasing device for liquid containers whlch will be positlve 1n operatlon, wlll be inexpensive to manufacture,

VJ and will be formed of a few strong, durable and simple parts which will not easily get out of order. I f WVith the above and other objects in View the invention consists in 'certain novel'details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the the invention. a V

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification: Figure 1 is a side elevation of'amotor show;

1930. st-mine. 461,589.

cuit,

F ig..3 a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

1 v Fig. lis an end eleva-tionshowing the valve I and fuse,

Fig. 5 1s a vertical sectional view taken on theline5+5 of Fig. 4, and

I Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit. 7

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designatesimilar .ed indicating needle to close an electric ci'rtherein which isconnected by a tube 16 to a temperature indicating gauge or motor meter I 17 located on the instrument panel 18 of the automobile. L These parts are of the usual standard construction;

In carrying out the invention, I modifythe 7 temperature gauge to produce a thermostat controlled electric switch. To this end a fixed "insulated switch contact 19, as best shown in Fig. 2, is fixed'to the dial 20 of the, gauge in the path of movement of the indicatingneedle 21.,which. is grounded and forms a" movable switch contact. The fixed contact 19 is pref erablylocated at the 32 degree calibration of the instrument so that when the temperature, of the Water drops to freezing the needle will touch the fixed contact and close an electric circuit;

- In the preferred embodiment of the releas-- ing means for the water in the cooling system I provide a valve housing 22 which is provided witha-nipple 23 which may be screwed into'the emptying orifice of the water circulatory system, as best showniin Fig. 1. The housing is provided with a collarQt which is provided with wrench faces25 to facilitate application and removal of the device.- The lower end of the housing is open and is norfmally closed by a flap valve 26 which is pro videdYwith, a fiber .washer'27 to engage the edge of the housing and prevent leakage. The valve is fixed to an angular lever. arm 28 which is hinged by a pin 29 to a lug 30 carried by the housing. A helical spring 31 is enclosed within the housing and confined under tension between the valve and the inner wall of the bore of the housing for opening the valve. r

A pair of curved leaf springs 82 and 33 are provided, the uppermost leaf spring being se-.

cured to a ring 34 of insulating material which is rigidly fixed to the housing, and the lowermost spring being secured in any preferred manner to the free end of the angular.

lever 28. An insulating blank of material 35 is inserted between the lever, and the leaf spring.

, Both leaf springs form a support for a wire fuse 36 which is preferably formed of nickel michrome, and the ends of which are looped around the respective leafsprings and twisted backupon the body of the fuse, as shown at .37 and 38. The fuse is thus yieldably held under tension by the leaf springsso as not to be broken by shocks and jars. The fuse, furthermore, coact-s with the leaf springs in holding the valve 26 closed against the tenof its spring 31.

By now referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that a conductor wire 39 connects the fixed contact 19 of the motor meter with the uppermost leaf spring 32. Another conductor wire connects the storage battery B with the lowermost leaf spring 38'. hen the temperature of the water in the cooling system drops to freezing the grounded needle touches the fixed contact 32 thereby closing an electric circuit through the wire 39, leaf spring 32, fuse 36, leaf spring 33, and wire 40 to the battery. When the circuit is closed the fuse is blown anddisconnects the leaf springs 32 and 33 whereby the valve 26 is released andthe spring 31 thereof instantly opens the valve and empties the cooling system.

Ifdesired, I may locate a. switch contact 41, see Fig. 6, at the high temperature end of the i motor metcrscale to be touched by the needle 21 when the water becomes heated to approximately 212 degrees. To this contact may be connected a wire 42 which leads to a fuse 43 located on the instrument panel 18. Another wire 44 connects the fuse with the primary ignition switch 45 which in turn is connected by a wire 46 to the storage battery. I A wire 47 may be connected to the distributor 48 ofthe ignition system and to the fuse 43. Thus 'hen the needle touches the contact 41 of the ignition system will be short circuitedand the fuse 43 will be'blown so that the engine must stop running until the temperature of the water is restored to normal. age from overheated hearings will be prevented while the batl'cry will also be safe from discharge. 1

Having thus described the invention, I claim: V

1. An automatic device for emptying liq- Thus damuid from a container comprising a thermostat controlled switch, a liquid releasing means normally closing the emptying orilice of said container and tending to move to open position, and a fuse electrically connected in circuit with said switch and operatively connected to said means to normally hold said means closed, said fuse adapted to be blown by closing of said switch to permit actuation of said releasing means.

2 'An automatic device for emptying liquid, froma container comprising a thermostat control-lo d switch, a liquid releasing means normally .clos. the emptying oririce of said container and tending to move to open position, a fuse electrically connectcdin circuit with said switch, and means for yieldably holding said fuse co-acting with. the fuse in holding said releasing means normally closed, said fuse zula 'ited to be blmvn by closing of said switch to free said fuse holding means and permit the opening of the releasing means.

2%. An automatic device for emptying liquir from a. container comprising a spring pressed valve for closing an outlet in the convainer, a thermostat controlled switch adapted to be closed at a predetermined temperature of said liquid, and a fuse electrically connected in circuit with said switch and normally holding said valve closed, said fuse adapted to be blown when said switch is closedthereby to release said valve and permit opening thereof.

4. An automatic device for emptying liquid from a container comprising a spring pressed valve for closing an outlet in the container, a thermostat controlled switch adapted tobe closed at a predetermined temperature of said liquid, a fuse electrically connected in circuit with said switch, and resilient supports for the fuse operatively connected to the valve and coacting with the fuse in normally holding said valve closed, said fuse adapted to be blown when the switch is closed thereby to release said valve and permit opening thereof by said spring. 5. An automatic device'for emptyin liquid from a container comprising a thermostat controlled gauge needle responsive to temperature changes in the liquid and forming a movable switch contact, a stationary switch contact adapted to be touched by said ne dle to close an electric circuit, a spring iressed valve for closing an outlet insaid container, and a fuse in normally holding said-valve closed against the tension of its spring and adapted to be blown when said circuit is closed to release sa i d valve.

6, An automatic device for emptying liquid from a container comprising a valve housing adapted to be secured to the containcrand forming an outlet therefor, a valve hinged 'to said housing, a spring in the housunder tension and said electric circuit ing for opening the valve, a pair of leaf springs one of which is connected to the housing and the other to the valve, a fuse connecting said leaf springs and rcoacting' therewith to normally hold said valve closed mally closing the outlet ofsaid housing, a thermostat controlledswitch adapted to be closed by 'a predetermined variation in temperature in said system, and a fuse electrically connected in circuit with said switch and normally holding said valve closed against the tension of its spring, said fuse adapted to beblown by closing of said switch to permit said valve to beopened by its spring.

In testimofiy whereof I aflix my signature. WILLIA E. ALBERTSON. [1,. s.] 

